Hasegawa 40126 - 1:350 U.S. Navy Escort Carrier USS Shamrock Bay CVE-84

Plastic model kit of the American escort carrier USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) in 1:350 scale

Hasegawa 40126 is a kit for self-assembly representing the American escort carrier USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) – one of the many ships of the Casablanca class. Escort carriers were smaller, cheaper-to-build ships produced in large numbers during the Second World War, for tasks such as protecting convoys, supporting landings and ferrying aircraft.

The model reproduces the ship in its configuration from December 1944 to May 1945. The kit includes carrier aircraft and a template to help reproduce the hull-side camouflage.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, flight deck and island parts
• 6 Wildcat fighters and 3 Avenger bombers; the wings can be modelled extended or folded
• Template for painting the hull-side camouflage
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:350
• Catalogue number: 40126
• Manufacturer: Hasegawa
• Assembled length: 447 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The model is recommended for modellers with some experience, partly because of the many small deck-fitting parts and the miniature aircraft. It is worth planning the sequence of work so that the deck and superstructures are painted before the small details are fitted.

For the finish, a wartime US Navy camouflage scheme is recommended; the supplied template helps reproduce the pattern, and the instructions provide colour suggestions. Ships are usually finished with a matt varnish, and detail and recesses can be emphasised by applying a wash.

Tools required:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Precise modelling tweezers for the small parts
• A wash to bring out the detail

About the ship – USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84):

USS Shamrock Bay was one of the Casablanca-class escort carriers – the most numerous class of carriers in history. These ships were built in American shipyards at a very rapid pace to meet the needs of a war fought across two oceans.

Shamrock Bay entered service in 1944 and operated in the Pacific as part of the US Navy. It took part, among other things, in amphibious operations, providing air cover and air support. Fighters and torpedo-bombers were based on its deck.

The Hasegawa model allows this ship to be reproduced together with its air group.

Original ship specifications (USS Shamrock Bay, CVE-84):

• Type: Casablanca-class escort carrier
• Displacement: approx. 8,200 tons (standard)
• Length: approx. 156 m
• Maximum speed: approx. 19 knots
• Crew: approx. 900
• Armament: a 127 mm gun and 40 mm and 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons

About the manufacturer – Hasegawa:

Hasegawa is a Japanese manufacturer of model kits based in Shizuoka, a region regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company has operated since 1941; it began with wooden products and from the 1960s focused on plastic models. The brand is best known for its aircraft kits, but its catalogue also includes ships, cars, motorcycles and models from popular science-fiction series, including Macross. Hasegawa models are valued for their accurate shapes, finely reproduced panel lines and good parts fit. The manufacturer regularly releases limited editions of established moulds with new decal sheets and additional parts that reproduce specific versions and liveries. Hasegawa remains one of the most recognisable model brands in the world and is available in many countries.